Derivatives of tetrahydrobenzothiazole and herbicidal compositions containing the same as an active ingredient

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are a derivative of tetrahydrobenzothiazole represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group; R 1  represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group methoxy group, acetoxy group, propionyloxy group, butylyloxy group, chloroacetoxy group, methoxyacetoxy group, C 1  to C 4  -alkylamino group or di(C 1  to C 4 )-alkylamino group, or represents O═together with R 2  ; R 2  represents a hydrogen atom or represents O═together with R 1  ; and X represents a methylene group, hydroxymethylene group, carbonyl group or --O--, and a herbicidal composition containing the same as an active ingredient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a derivative of tetrahydrobenzothiazole represented by the formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group; R¹ represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, methoxy group, acetoxy group, propionyloxy group, butyryloxy group, chloroacetoxy group, methoxyacetoxy group, C₁ to C₄ -alkylamino group or di(C₁ to C₄)-alkylamino group, or an oxygen atom in a state of ═O together with R² ; R² represents a hydrogen atom or an oxygen atom in a state of ═O together with R¹ and X represents a methylene group, hydroxymethylene group or carbonyl group or an oxygen atom in a state of --O--, and a herbicidal composition containing the same as an active ingredient.

The present inventors have studied for finding a compound showing an excellent activity in selectivity controlling weeds such as Echinochloa crus-galli, Poa annua, Cardamine flexuosa, Portulaca orelacea, etc. without any phytotoxicity to crop plants such as rice, wheat, soybean and maize, and as a result, they have found that a derivative of tetrahydrobenzothiazole, represented by the formula (I) shows an excellent herbicidal activity for practically controlling the weeds, and have attained to the present invention.

The compounds represented by the formula (I) are novel compounds, and of course, the physiological properties of the compounds have never been known. According to the herbicidal tests consisting essentially of foliar application and soil treatment, the derivatives of tetrahydrobenzothiazole according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "the present compounds") show an excellent herbicidal activity on broad-leaved weeds, for instance, Stellaria media, Cardamine flexuosa, and Portulaca oleracea, Cyperaceous weeds, for instance, Cyperus iria and Gramineous weeds, for instance, those belonging to the genus Echinochloa and Poa annua, and particularly show strong herbicidal activity when applied on leaves and stems of these weeds.

The application is carried out on crop lands such as paddy fields, upland fields, orchards etc. and also on non-crop lands.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a derivative of tetrahydrobenzothiazole represented by the formula (I): ##STR3## wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group; R¹ represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, methoxy group, acetoxy group, propionyloxy group, butyryloxy group, chloroacetoxy group, methoxyacetoxy group, C₁ to C₄ -alkylamino group or di(C₁ to C₄)-alkylamino groupl or an oxygen atom in a state of ═O together with R² ; R² represents a hydrogen atom or an oxygen atom in a state of ═O together with R¹ and X represents a methylene group, hydroxymethylene group or carbonyl group or an oxygen atom in a state of --O--.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a herbicidal composition comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one derivative of tetrahydrobenzothiazole represented by the formula (I), and a diluent therefor.

In the attached drawing, FIGS. 1 to 25 show the infrared absorption spectra of Compounds Nos. 1 to 25 according to the present invention, respectively.

The compounds of the present invention represented by the formula (I) can be synthesized from the compounds represented by the formulae (II) to (VII) as follows.

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (II) is reacted with glyoxal, a compound represented by the formula (III) is obtained. ##STR4## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group).

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (II) is reacted with oxalyl chloride, a compound represented by the formula (IV) is obtained. ##STR5## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group).

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (II) is reacted with glyoxylic acid, a compound represented by the formula (V) is obtained. ##STR6## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group, or propyl group).

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (VI) is treated with aqueous diluted solution of mineral acid, a compound represented by the formula (VII) is obtained. ##STR7## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group).

Further, by acylating the thus obtained compound, a compound having an acyloxy group as shown below. ##STR8## (wherein Ac represents an acyl group).

Further, by heating the compound represented by the formula (VII) with an amine, a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein R¹ represents an alkylamino group or dialkylamino group is obtained, and by heating the compound represented by the formula (VII) in an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, a compound in which R¹ is an alkoxyl group is obtained.

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (VIII) is reacted with phosgene or carbonyldiimidazole, a compound represented by the formula (IX) is obtained. ##STR9## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group).

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (X) is reacted with phosgene or carbonyldiimidazole, a compound represented by the formula (XI) is obtained. ##STR10## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group).

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (XII) is reacted with an aqueous dilute solution of a mineral acid, a compound represented by the formula (XIII) is obtained. ##STR11## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group).

In the case where a compound represented by the formula (XIV) is reacted with acetic anhydride, a compound represented by the formula (XV) is obtained. ##STR12## (wherein R represents a methyl group, ethyl group or propyl group).

Methods for respectively synthesizing the compounds represented by the formulae (II), (VI), (VIII), (X), (XII) and (XIV) are explained as follows.

The compound represented by the formula (II) is obtained by reacting an alkyl isocyanate to a compound represented by the formula (XVI): ##STR13##

The compounds respectively represented by the formulae (VI), (X) and (XIV) are obtained by reacting a suitable amino compound to a compound represented by the formula (XVII) which is obtained by reacting phenyl chloroformate to a compound represented by the formula (XVI): ##STR14##

The compound represented by the formula (VIII) is obtained by substituting a chlorine atom in the compound represented by the formula (XVIII) with a suitable amino compound. ##STR15##

The compound represented by the formula (XII) is obtained by reacting an alkyl isocyanate to the compound obtained by the same way as the compound represented by the formula (VIII).

The thus obtained compounds represented by the formula (I) are concretely shown in Table 1 together with the respective physical properties thereof.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Compound number                                                                          ##STR16##           Melting point (°C.)                                                               Yield (%)                                                                            IR spectrum                     __________________________________________________________________________                ##STR17##          175-177   57    FIG. 1                           2                                                                                         ##STR18##          134-136   78    FIG. 2                           3                                                                                         ##STR19##          165-167   57    FIG. 3                           4                                                                                         ##STR20##          110-112   44    FIG. 4                           5                                                                                         ##STR21##          230-231   45    FIG. 5                           6                                                                                         ##STR22##          213-214   60    FIG. 6                           7                                                                                         ##STR23##          201-202   63    FIG. 7                           8                                                                                         ##STR24##          185-186   19    FIG. 8                           9                                                                                         ##STR25##          136-137   72    FIG. 9                           10                                                                                        ##STR26##          107-109   24    FIG. 10                          11                                                                                        ##STR27##          59-62     22    FIG. 11                          12                                                                                        ##STR28##          132-134   70    FIG. 12                          13                                                                                        ##STR29##          131-133   46    FIG. 13                          14                                                                                        ##STR30##          220-222   73    FIG. 14                          15                                                                                        ##STR31##          137-139   55    FIG. 15                          16                                                                                        ##STR32##          118-120   43    FIG. 16                          17                                                                                        ##STR33##          130-132   85    FIG. 17                          18                                                                                        ##STR34##          175-176   42    FIG. 18                          19                                                                                        ##STR35##          184-186   46    FIG. 19                          20                                                                                        ##STR36##          158-160   38    FIG. 20                          21                                                                                        ##STR37##          145-147   24    FIG. 21                          22                                                                                        ##STR38##          146-149   58    FIG. 22                          23                                                                                        ##STR39##          158-161   80    FIG. 23                          24                                                                                        ##STR40##          124-126   53    FIG. 24                          25                                                                                        ##STR41##          100-102   66    FIG. 25                          __________________________________________________________________________

The present invention will be more precisely explained while referring to Examples as follows.

However, the present invention is not restricted to Examples under mentioned.

In addition, the NMR spectra of the present compounds were determined by utilizing TMS as the internal standard, and shown by the following indexes.

S: singlet, d: doublet; t: triplet; 6-plet: sextet and m: multiplet

EXAMPLE 1 Synthesis of 1-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-4,5-dihydroxy-3-propyl-2-imidazolidinone (Compound No. 2)

In 50 ml of ethanol, 2.5 g (0.009 mol) of N-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-N'-propylurea were dissolved, and an aqueous 40% solution of glyoxal (3.3 g (0.027 mol)) (pH had been adjusted 8 to 9 by adding aqueous 10% solution of sodium hydroxide) was added dropwise at room temperature to the solution. After heating the mixture under reflux for 3 hours, ethanol was distilled off from the mixture, and the remaining solid material was recrystallized from a mixture of ethyl acetate and ethanol to obtain 2.4 g of whity crystals (yield: 78% and M.P.: 134° to 136° C. (decomposition)). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR spectrum (as KBr tablet, cm⁻¹): υ_(OH) 3250 and υ_(CO) 1720 and 1620.

NMR(DMSO-d₆)δ(ppm): 0.92 (3H, t, J=7 Hz, CH₂ CH₂ CH₃); 1.09 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 1.57 (2H, 6-plet, J=7 Hz, CH₂ CH₂ CH₃); 2.42 and 2.81 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂); 3.30 (2H, m, CH₂ CH₂ CH₃); 4.89 (1H, d, J=8 Hz, 4-H); 5.58 (1H, d, J=6 Hz, 5-H); 6.64 (1H, d, J=8 Hz, 4-OH) and 7.28 (1H, d, J=6 Hz, 5-OH).

EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis of 1-ethyl-3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)imidazolidinetrione (Compound No. 3)

Into 20 ml of dichloromethane, 2.5 g (0.009 mol) of N-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl-N'-ethylurea were added, and 1.3 g (0.01 mol) of oxalyl chloride was added dropwise to the mixture at room temperature. After heating the mixture under reflux for one hour, 30 ml of n-hexane were added to the reaction mixture, and the thus precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and washed with water. Then, the washed crystals were recrystallized from ethanol to obtain 1.7 g of whity crystals (yield: 57% and M.P.: 165° to 167° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR (KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(CO) 1780, 1750 and 1655.

NMR (DMSO-d₆)δ(ppm): 1.10 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 1.21 (3H, t, J=7 Hz, CH₂ CH₃); 2.51 and 2.92 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂) and 3.68 (2H, q, J=7 Hz, CH₂ CH₃).

EXAMPLE 3 Synthesis of 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-5-hydroxy-1-methyl-2,4-imidazolidinedione (Compound No. 5)

In 25 ml of benzene, 2.5 g (0.01 mol) of N-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-N'-methylurea and 1.2 g (0.013 mol) of glyoxylic acid monohydrate were suspended, and the suspension was heated under reflux while removing water by azeotropic distillation for 2 hours. Then the residue was cooled to collect the crystals by filtration, and the crystals were washed with benzene and then with water, and recrystallized from a mixture of acetone and ethanol to obtain 1.4 g of whity crystals (yield: 45% and M.P.: 230° to 231° C. (decomposition)). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR (KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(OH) 3310, ν_(CO) 1809, 1750 and 1650.

NMR(DMSO-d₆)δ(ppm): 1.09 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 2.51 and 2.91 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂); 2.97 (3H, S, 1-CH₃); 5.23 (1H, d, J=9 Hz, 5-H) and 7.49 (1H, d, J=9 Hz, OH).

EXAMPLE 4 Synthesis of 1-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-3-methyl-2-imidazolidinone (Compound No. 8)

Into 5 ml of dimethylformamide, 0.7 g (0.003 mol) of 5,5-dimethyl-2-(2-methylaminoethylamino)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-7-oxo-2-benzothiazole and 0.85 g (0.005 mol) of carbonyldiimidazole were added, and the mixture was stirred for 3 hours at 80° to 90° C. Then, the reaction mixture was poured into iced water, and the aqueous mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. After purifying the extract by silica-gel chromatograph, the thus obtained crystals were recrystallized from a mixture of hexane and ethyl acetate to obtain 0.15 g of crystals (yield: 19% and M.P.: 185° to 186° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(CO) 1720 and 1650.

NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ(ppm): 1.03 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 2.37 and 2.73 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂); 2.85 (3H, S, 3-CH₃); 3.28-3.82 (2H, m, 4-H₂) and 3.82-4.25 (2H, m, 5-H₂).

EXAMPLE 5 Synthesis of 1-ethyl-3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-4-hydroxy-2-imidazolinone (Compound No. 14)

Into 50 ml of aqueous 5% solution of sulfuric acid, 4.3 g (0.012 mol) of N-ethyl-N'-(4,5,6,7,-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl) urea were added, and the mixture was stirred for one hour at 80° to 90° C. After cooling the reaction mixture, the precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and washed with water. By recrystallizing the crystals from methanol containing 20% of water, 2.7 g of white acicular crystals (yield: 73% and M.P.: 220° to 222° C. (decomposition) were obtained. The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(OH) 3400, ν_(CO) 1710 and 1630.

NMR(CDCl₃) δ(ppm): 1.10 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 1.21 (3H, t, J=7 Hz, CH₂ CH₃); 2.43 and 2.73 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂); 3.27-3.98 (4H, m, 5-H₂ and CH₂ CH₃); 4.99 (1H, bS, OH); and 6.11 (1H, bd, J=6 Hz, 4-H).

EXAMPLE 6 Synthesis of 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-propionyloxy-2-imidazolinone (Compound No. 9)

In 15 ml of pyridine, 4.0 g (0.0135 mol) of 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-imidazolinedione produced in a similar manner to that in Example 5 were suspended, and 3.8 g (0.04 mol) of propionyl chloride were added dropwise to the suspension. After stirring the mixture for 18 hours at room temperature, the mixture was poured into iced water and the precipitated crystals were collected by filtration and washed with water. The thus washed crystals were recrystallized from a mixture of hexane and chloroform to obtain 3.4 g of white crystals (yield: 72% and M.P.: 136° to 137° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(CO) 1740 and 1650.

NMR(CDCl₃) δ(ppm): 1.12 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 1.15 (3H, t, J=7 Hz, OCOCH₂ CH₃); 2.38 (2H, q, J=7 Hz, OCOCH₂ CH₃); 2.44 and 2.77 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂); 3.00 (3H, S, 1-CH₃); 3.41 (1H, dd, J=2, 12 Hz, 5-H); 3.94 (1H, dd, J=7, 12 Hz, 5-H) and 6.99 (1H, dd, J=2, 7 Hz, 4-H).

EXAMPLE 7 Synthesis of 1-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-imidazolinone (Compound No. 18)

Into a mixture of 10 ml of ethanol, 10 ml of water and 2.5 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid, 1.8 g of N-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-N-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)-N'-methylurea was added, and the mixture was heated under reflux for 30 min. After distilling ethanol off from the reaction mixture, water was poured to the residue, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. After washing the organic layer with water and then with aqueous solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate, and drying the washed layer, the solvent was distilled off, and the residue was purified by silica-gel column chromatograph, and recrystallized from benzene to obtain 0.65 g of crystals (yield: 42% and M.P.: 175° to 176° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(OH) 3270, ν_(CO) 1720 and 1620.

NMR(aceton-d₆), δ(ppm): 1.12 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 2.40 and 2.77 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂); 2.97 (3H, S, 3-CH₃); 3.97 (1H, dd, J=6, 8 Hz, 5-H); 4.30 (1H, dd, J=6, 12 Hz, 5-H); 5.38 (1H, ddd, J=6, 8, 12 Hz, 4-H) and 5.67 (1H, dd, J=6, 8 Hz, OH).

EXAMPLE 8 Synthesis of 1-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-3-methyl-2,4-imidazolinedione (Compound No. 19)

In 5 ml of dimethylformamide, 0.5 g (0.0019 mol) of (4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)amino-N¹ -methylacetamide and 0.6 g (0.0037 mol) of carbonyldiimidazole were added, and the mixture was stirred for 30 min at room temperature. Then the mixture was poured into iced water, and extracted with dichloromethane. After washing the organic layer with water and drying thereof, the solvent was distilled off from the extract and the residual solid material was recrystallized from a mixture of dichloromethane and ether to obtain 0.25 g of white crystals (yield: 46% and M.P.: 184° to 186° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(CO) 1780, 1720 and 1650.

NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ(ppm): 1.10 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 2.44 and 2.80 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H and 6'-H); 3.00 (3H, S, 3-CH₃) and 4.57 (2H, S, 5-H₂).

EXAMPLE 9 Synthesis of 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-2,4-imidazolidinedione (Compound No. 20)

After heating 0.5 g of N-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)carbamoyl-N-methylglycine in 10 ml of acetic anhydride under reflux for 2 hours, the reaction mixture was evaporated to solid.

The thus obtained solid material was recrystallized from a mixture of chloroform and hexane to obtain 0.18 g of pale yellow crystals (yield: 38% and M.P.: 158° to 160° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(CO) 1790, 1735 and 1650.

NMR(CDCl₃) δ(ppm): 1.16 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 2.52 and 3.05 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H and 6'-H); 3.21 (3H, S, 1-CH₃) and 4.28 (2H, S, 5-H₂).

EXAMPLE 10 Synthesis of 4-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-2-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3,5-dione (Compound No. 21)

Into 20 ml of dimethylformamide, 0.4 g (0.0015 mol) of N-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-N'-hydroxy-N'-methylurea and 0.8 g (0.005 mol) of carbonyldiimidazole were added, and the mixture was stirred for 30 min at room temperature and then poured into iced water. The aqueous mixture was extracted with chloroform, and the organic layer was washed with water and dried. After distilling the solvent off from the dried extract, the residual solid material was purified by silica-gel chromatography and recrystallized from a mixture of chloroform and hexane to obtain 0.1 g of white crystals (yield: 24% and M.P.: 145° to 147° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(KBr, cm⁻¹): ν_(CO) 1840, 1745 and 1660.

NMR(CDCl₃) δ(ppm): 1.15 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 2.50 and 2.97 (each 2H, S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂) and 3.54 (3H, S, 2-CH₃).

EXAMPLE 11 Synthesis of 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-propylamino-2-imidazolinone (Compound No. 25)

Into 20 ml of propylamine, 3.0 g (0.01 mol) of 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-4-hydroxy-1-methylimidazolinone was added, and the mixture was stirred for 3 hours at room temperature. After distilling the excess of the amine off from the mixture, the residue was solidified and recrystallized from a mixture of chloroform and hexane to obtain 2.2 g of white crystals (yield: 66% and M.P.: 100° to 102° C.). The product showed the following IR spectrum and NMR spectrum.

IR(CHCl₃, cm⁻¹): ν_(NH) 3330, ν_(CO) 1710 and 1640.

NMR(CDCl₃) δ(ppm): 0.90 (3H, t, J=7 Hz, CH₂ CH₂ CH₃); 1.18 [6H, S, 5'-(CH₃)₂ ]; 1.42 (2H, 6-plet, J=7 Hz, CH₂ CH₂ CH₃); 2.18-2.68 (2H, m, CH₂ CH₂ CH₃); 2.50 and 2.82 (each 2H, each S, 4'-H₂ and 6'-H₂); 3.05 (4H, S, 1-CH₃ and NH); 3.48 (1H, dd, J=2, 9 Hz, 5-H); 3.85 (1H, dd, J=9, 10 Hz, 5-H) and 5.72 (1H, dd, J=2, 9 Hz, 4-H).

PREPARATION EXAMPLE 1 Preparation and Application of a Wettable Powder

By mixing 50 parts by weight of the present compound (Compound No. 5), 5 parts by weight of a salt of ligninsulfonic acid, 3 parts by weight of a salt of alkylsulfonic acid and 42 parts by weight of diatomaceous earth and pulverizing the mixture, a wettable powder was prepared.

The thus prepared wettable powder is applied after diluting with water to a suitable concentration of the present compound (Compound No. 5) as the active ingredient.

PREPARATION EXAMPLE 2 Preparation and application of an emulsifiable concentrate

By uniformly mixing 25 parts by weight of the present compound (Compound No. 11), 65 parts by weight of xylene and 10 parts by weight of polyoxyethylenealkyl aryl ether, an emulsifiable concentrate was prepared.

The thus prepared emulsifiable concentrate is applied after diluting with water to a suitable concentration of the present compound (Compound No. 11) as the active ingredient.

PREPARATION EXAMPLE 3 Preparation and application of a granular composition

After uniformly mixing 8 parts by weight of the present compound (Compound No. 22), 40 parts by weight of bentonite, 45 parts by weight of clay and 7 parts by weight of a salt of ligninsulfonic acid, the mixture was kneaded with water and processed into granules by an extruding granulator. The granules were dried and shifted to be a product of granular composition which is directly applied.

The effectiveness of the present compounds are explained while referring to the herbicidal test example as follows:

HERBICIDAL TEST EXAMPLE Herblcidal test example by foliar application

To the foliage of each of the following plants grown from their seeds under a management in a plastic planter of 180×580×150 mm in size, each of the wettable powders prepared as in Preparation Example 1 and diluted to 0.1% by weight of the active ingredient with water was sprayed by a small pressured-sprayer at a rate of 10 liters per are (100 m²). After spraying in the plastic planter were placed in a green house.

After 21 days of the treatment, the state of the plants was observed to assess the damage due to the application of each of the wettable powders to find out the herbicidal activity thereof according to the following criteria:

    ______________________________________                                         Criteria of herbicidal activity                                                Index           Phytotoxicity                                                  ______________________________________                                         0               none                                                           1               minute                                                         2               slight                                                         3               medium                                                         4               severe                                                         5               very severe (withered)                                         ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         Name of the plants tested                                                      ______________________________________                                         1.   Echinochloa crus-galli                                                                            2.     Digitaria ciliaris                              3.   Poa annua          4.     Cyperus iria                                    5.   Chenopodium album  6.     Stellaria media                                 7.   Cardamine flexuosa 8.     Portulaca oleracea                              9.   Glycine max (Soybean)                                                                             10.    Zea mays (Maize)                                11.  Triticum aestivum (Wheat)                                                 ______________________________________                                    

The herbicidal activities of the present compounds thus assessed are shown in Table 2, the plants to which the present wettable powder was applied being in the 2 to 4 leaf-stage of the growth.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Herbicidal Activity                                                                     Number of present compounds                       Not                 Plant    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10                                                                               11                                                                               12                                                                               13                                                                               14                                                                               15                                                                               16                                                                               17                                                                               18                                                                               19                                                                               20                                                                               21                                                                               22                                                                               23                                                                               24                                                                               25                                                                               treated             __________________________________________________________________________     Echinochloa crus-                                                                       3 1 1 1 3 1 0 3 5 4 3 5 4 2 3 4 0 0 0 1 1  4                                                                               4 5 5 0                   galli                                                                          Digitaria ciliaris                                                                      3 0 1 0 2 1 0 2 4 4 2 3 4 3 4 2 1 1       1                                                                              2                                                                              2                                                                              4 5 5 5 0                   Poa annua                                                                               3 0 0 1 1 0 0 4 5 5 3 3 3 4 4 1 2 1       0                                                                              1                                                                              3                                                                              5 5 5 5 0                   Cyperus iria                                                                            2 0 0 0 2 2 2 3 5 3 3 3 5 4 0 1 0 0       1                                                                              0                                                                              2                                                                              2 4 5 3 0                   Chenopodium                                                                             4 2 2 3 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 5 5 3 4       3                                                                              4                                                                              5                                                                              5 5 5 5 0                   album                                                                          Stellaria media                                                                         4 2 3 3 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 4 4       2                                                                              5                                                                              5                                                                              5 5 5 5 0                   Cardamine                                                                               5 3 3 3 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 4       3                                                                              5                                                                              5                                                                              5 5 5 5 0                   flexuosa                                                                       Portulaca                                                                               4 2 3 2 4 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 3 5       2                                                                              4                                                                              5                                                                              5 5 5 5 0                   oleracea                                                                       Glycine max                                                                             0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0       0                                                                              0                                                                              0                                                                              2 1 1 0 0                   (soybean)                                                                      Zea mays (maize)                                                                        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0       0                                                                              0                                                                              0                                                                              0 1 1 0 0                   Triticum aestivum                                                                       0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0       0                                                                              0                                                                              1                                                                              0 1 2 0 0                   (wheat)                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-methylamino-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR42##
 2. 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-dimethylamino-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR43##
 3. 4-diethylamino-3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR44##
 4. 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-propylamino-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR45##
 5. A herbicidal composition comprising 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-methylamino-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR46## and a diluent therefor.
 6. A herbicidal composition comprising 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-dimethylamino-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR47## and a diluent therefor.
 7. A herbicidal composition comprising 4-diethylamino-3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR48## and a diluent therefor.
 8. A herbicidal composition 3-(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-benzothiazolyl)-1-methyl-4-propylamino-2-imidazolidinone represented by the formula: ##STR49## and a diluent therefor. 